A Fitting Memorial

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” [Exodus 20:8]

If you have ever been to Arlington National Cemetery you have probably seen a sharp-looking sentinel guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Every detail performed by this honor guard is flawlessly executed and meaningful. During his march by the tomb, the guard takes 21 steps, turns 90 degrees to face the tomb, pauses 21 seconds, turns another 90 degrees to face back down the mat, and pauses 21 seconds. These pauses allude to the 21-gun salute, the highest military honor.

For a soldier to apply to guard the tomb, he must be in superb physical condition and between 5’10” and 6’4” tall. Less than 20 percent of the soldiers who try out for this duty are accepted for training, and only a fraction of them become guards. Off-duty time is spent training and memorizing the notable people resting in Arlington National Cemetery and where they are interred. Every guard spends up to five hours a day making sure his uniform is impeccable. After serving for several months and passing a proficiency test and written test, the guard is given a Tomb Guard Badge that is worn on his uniform pocket. There have only been about 525 awarded, making it one of the least awarded Army badges, second only to the Astronaut Badge. Recipients are held to a high standard and must not do anything that brings dishonor upon the tomb. Only nine badges have been revoked.

The guards, which are changed every 30 minutes in summer and every hour in winter, have been patrolling the tomb 24 hours a day, 365 days a year continuously since April 6, 1948. They are so dedicated that their duty is performed in all types of weather. For them, guarding the tomb is not just an assignment – it is the highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. Every year on Memorial Day, thousands of visitors to Arlington National Cemetery behold the awesome loyalty of these silent sentinels guarding the tomb.

Did you know the Bible teaches that God has a memorial to be remembered? The fourth commandment explains: “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:11). Each week we memorialize God’s creative power and honor Him as our Creator by keeping His Sabbath holy.